I love the coffee logo (#1) but how can you compare that to anything else? #2,6, 8 or 9 probably took 50 times more time and skill to do it. This is not comparing apples to apples. Btw 2, 6,8,9 are superb.

Most of the designs are too busy. Too much detail. The essence of great design is simplicity. Making immediate impact without having to look too closely. And get lost in all the details. A logo or illustration should make an immediate point without having to spend too much time looking at the details especially for packaging and marketing.

Great analysis, but not everyone goes minimalist because is trendy or because we all love steeve jobs or hipster or flat designed digital ivaders. Barocco, art nouveau, dramatic, passionate, shakesparian and classical art inspired designs also catch a lot of passionate costumers. Its all about significance x emotions. And, in my opinion, emotion always wins. because our emotions manipulate our reason. I voted the frazetta inspired illustration for sci-fi book cover! But as a designer I loved what you wrote.